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The Flick Lab

Karri Ojala, Henrik Telkki

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Discover the treasures of international cinema through the analytical lens of two media industry professionals from Finland, Karri Ojala and Henrik Telkki. With a straight-forward, playful yet analytical spirit, the hosts navigate the world of film with varied guests from around the globe, whether industry professionals or fascinating people from the film's target country. Gain unique insights, knowledge and surprising looking glasses from the world of film. New episodes biweekly.
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Prometheus is the return of director Ridley Scott to the Alien franchise. This is in fact a standalone story based on the same Alien universe, but not an Alien movie per se. It provides ample story elements, but are most of them driven to any conclusion? Do the writers and the director even know the meaning of their own plot threads? Karri and Henr…
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"Alien: Resurrection" is often considered the black sheep of the franchise, and the passing decades have not been kind to it, at least among some fans. What could be behind the venomous hate towards "Alien: Resurrection"? Is this the lowest point in the franchise, or is that still yet to come? Is "Alien: Resurrection" successful at its self-parody?…
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Alien 3 was a nightmare production for the first-time feature director David Fincher. As the young master was trying to put together the best film he could under the circumstances, the studio and even scriptwriters kept interfering with his attempts at applying his vision to a material that he had only few weeks to mull over before shooting had to …
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The Flick Lab rarely indulges in hyperbolic adulation or labels films as masterpieces. However, we do consider James Cameron's Aliens (1986) to be a masterpiece. This landmark film in the sci-fi genre transformed the Alien franchise into a global phenomenon. In this episode, we delve into the film’s themes, the shift from slow burn to action, the b…
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Karri and Henrik delve into their personal experiences from their artistic roots and TV/media industry. Among the discussion points are Karri's loss of interest in the industry, the industry's brutality, the tools they've utilized in media, advancements in editing on Linux, the debate over high-framerate in the film industry, challenges with high-r…
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In this podcast episode, Karri and Henrik discuss the movies and TV series they've watched over the past year or so, ones that haven't received dedicated coverage in previous episodes. This segment marks the second part of a two-part series. Films covered in this episode: For All Mankind (TV Series, 2019-) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7772588 Moonf…
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In this podcast episode, Karri and Henrik discuss the movies and TV series they've watched over the past year or so, ones that haven't received dedicated coverage in previous episodes. This episode marks the first part of a two-part series. Films covered in this episode: Reacher (TV Series, 2022-) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9288030 White Fang (19…
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The Flick Lab podcast recently had the pleasure of watching 'Healing Plan', a short film by two recent NYU graduates. Actress Matilde Silva and Director Samantha Joia joined us to discuss their new film. Luna, a Portuguese teen struggling with insomnia and her recent move to America, is sent to a celebrity doctor to help cope with her adjustment. H…
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In this episode of the podcast, the hosts Karri and Henrik compare the original Howard Hawkes / Christian Nyby 1951 version of The Thing to John Carpenter's 1982 reimagining and finally to the 2011 prequel / remake, directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. There's also a discussion on the original source novella by John W. Campbell from 1938. Each f…
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In this episode of the podcast, the director of Jävla pappa ('Goddamn Dad'), Niklas Gyberg Ivarsson, joins to discuss his documentary film about his complicated relationship to his alcoholic father. While they're building an RV together, the two are forced to confront their complicated feelings. This directorial debut of Niklas, published by the Sw…
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In this episode of the podcast, filmmaker and podcaster Martin Kessler joins the show to discuss the film The Ear, also known as Ucho. This Czechoslovakian classic, directed by Karel Kachyňa, unravels a Czech couple (Radoslav Brzobohatý, Jirina Bohdalová) consumed by fear and paranoia, vividly depicting the psychological toll of living in a communi…
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In this episode of the podcast, musician Pat Smith joins Karri and Henrik to delve into the critically acclaimed film Whiplash. Is it a story about transcending mediocrity to achieve brilliance in your chosen art, in this case, drumming? Alternatively, is Whiplash a gripping tale of a descent into madness, fueled by a mentorship gone awry? Perhaps …
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Filipino cinema is in a state of emergency. It is grappling with an artistic gridlock that confines new films to a limited spectrum between rom-coms and slapstick. Amidst this cinematic stagnation, the cinema-goers gravitate towards Hollywood blockbusters, meanwhile relegating the rich Filipino cinematic heritage to neglect. However, a resurgence i…
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In this episode of the podcast, Karri and Henrik delve into the origins of 'Friday the 13th,' exploring the first three films that birthed the iconic Jason Voorhees phenomenon. While the hockey mask-wearing serial killer has become a cultural staple, the question arises: do the initial entries in this enduring franchise truly merit their place in c…
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American writer-director-editor Nick Vaky and Taiwanese photographer-cinematographer Luke Liu form a filmmaking and production company/art collective. Nick and Luke's serendipitous meeting took place in Taiwan. They quickly discovered they have an abundance of chemistry between them and forged a lasting creative partnership, resulting in a prolific…
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The Flick Lab turns half a decade old. Hosts Karri and Henrik are interviewed about the podcast experience by Aku, Karri's astute sibling of the male kind. The situation quickly escalates into two hours of alleged hilarity. What have been the shining moments and the darkest hours of podcasting? Would Karri and Henrik recommend podcasting to anybody…
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In this episode of the podcast, the Lab has a discussion on "All Quiet on the Western Front," the story of timeless impact; a renowned German novel that has inspired three film adaptations. There is the Academy Awards-winning 1930 film, celebrated as a monumental incarnation of the story; the praised 1979 TV movie, which garnered accolades like the…
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In this episode of the podcast, Karri and Henrik investigate the highly successful Chinese action movies Wolf Warrior 1 and 2, which perhaps ironically, rely heavily on Hollywood's cinematic language while looking at the world through Chinese patriotically tinted glasses. But instead of nationalistic fervor, do the movies accidentally end up commun…
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In this episode of the podcast, two Westerners analyse two Chinese war "propaganda" movies, The Battle at Lake Changjin I & II (Water Gate Bridge), offering their candid feedback. These are among the most successful Chinese 'blockbusters' of all time, the first part being the biggest hit in China's history, grossing at least $913 million after its …
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In this episode of the podcast, Karri and Henrik discuss Die Hard, but what's left to say about it? The duo believes there's still room to discuss some of the less frequently tooted perspectives out there. Yet even The Flick Lab has to ask THE most frequent Die Hard question and answer it, so on behalf of all humanity, we can put the subject to bed…
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In this episode of the podcast, Karri and Henrik embark on an exploration of Sisu, the Finnish nazi butchering hit action movie that has been making waves around the world. As devoted advocates of Finnish culture, Karri and Henrik seize this opportunity to critically examine the cultural export of "sisu" and delve into its potential complexities. W…
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In this episode of the podcast, Karri and Henrik continue scouring Filmdoo.com, an international film streaming website, to discover its best free short films available. The duo sifts through a total of 33 random selections, unearthing hidden gems from around the world. This episode is not sponsored by Filmdoo. Part 2 of 2. Films covered in this ep…
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In this episode of the podcast, Karri and Henrik scour Filmdoo.com, an international film streaming website, to discover its best free short films available. The duo sifts through 33 random selections, unearthing hidden gems from around the world. This episode is not sponsored by Filmdoo. Part 1 of 2. Films covered in this episode: https://www.film…
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In this episode of the podcast, we look at Mission Impossible III. Is it a triumph or... just okay? Is it a glorious high or an uninspiring return to form? While Karri struggles to locate the movie's identity or anything truly worthwhile, Henrik takes a more generous view but admits that time has dulled some of its luster. As they dive deeper, the …
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In this episode of the podcast, we pose the question: is Mission Impossible II a work of art or a flaming dumpster fire? M:I-2 certainly is the most divisive of all the 'Mission' movies. Audiovisual professionals Karri and Henrik present their contrasting views on the movie, and engage in a lively discussion. The arguments for and against the film …
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In this episode of the podcast, Karri and Henrik dive into the charms of Mission Impossible and examine the first film in the franchise. Karri questions the greatness of the 1996 classic. Both hosts also explore the idea whether or not the first film contains a foundational formula for the franchise to follow, and if not, what then is the blueprint…
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Why are the Jurassic Park / World Sequels so bad? Karri and Henrik tackle this question, the entire franchise, and discuss the latest entry, Jurassic World: Dominion. Talking points include Spielberg and his family plots, tactile dimensions, the feeling of first time awe, self-awareness of The Lost World, character build issues and legacy character…
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In this episode of the podcast, the Finnish media mavens Karri and Henrik present the part 2 of their captivating cinematic exploration. In this exciting installment, the hosts delve deep into their cinematic experiences from the past year, featuring a selection of films from 2022 and beyond. Join Karri and Henrik on a journey through the dark and …
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In this episode of the podcast, get ready for a cinematic adventure as media pros Karri and Henrik dive into their movies watched in the past year - including films from 2022 and beyond. From Hollywood blockbusters to international and indie gems, this is an inside look at the films that they simply couldn't get enough of and the ones that left the…
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On December 6th every year, during Finnish Independence Day, hundreds of thousands of Finns gather around the telly to catch the movie they've seen countless times - The Unknown Soldier - in one of its three incarnations. The Winter War, however, is the lesser known Finnish war film, crushed under the fame of the aforementioned giants. Does The Win…
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Cancer. It's a universal concept that we all have heard about or know about. Despite all of our differences, there's more in life that connects us than divides us, and sometimes those shared experiences may veer to the unpleasant, such as cancer and death. Does even cinema fear cancer? Do any films about cancer exist, or is the concept being active…
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In this episode of the podcast, the two Finns Karri and Henrik discuss Paraguayan cinema. The film industry in this beautiful and proud South American land-locked nation has remained tiny, but it has finally garnered some due attention. The duo comes across elements of creative film-making, American influences, themes of poverty, affluence and inte…
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Geoffrey Firmin is a British consul in Mexico in the 1930's. He is drunk. Is that it, or is there more under the hood here? Karri and Henrik look into a movie that Karri hated as a kid. Now as highly sophisticated and intelligent adults, the duo tries to find out if there's anything worthwhile to be found here. What does the film want to say and ca…
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In this episode of the podcast, Halloween Ends - ostensibly, anyway. In this oddball and radically different Halloween franchise entry, director David Gordon Green ventures into the experimental. In principle, injecting new blood into the exhausted franchise may be welcome, but does this attempt deliver? Karri and Henrik are joined by the returning…
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Bedtime Stories is a Youtube channel that tells spooky tales of the paranormal and supernatural - popular and unknown stories. Their videos consists of beautiful and haunting hand-drawn artwork, accompanied by a wonderful narrator. But how true are the stories, or more importantly, are there some concerns with dramatization of real-life-based event…
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In this episode of the podcast, we look into what really happened at Camp 14 in North Korea to prisoner Shin Dong-Hyuk. Camp 14 is the hermit nation’s most notorious concentration camp. We have a documentary (Camp 14: Total Control Zone by Marc Wiese) and a book (Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden) to tell the story of his escape into freedom, bu…
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In this episode of the podcast, Karri and Henrik analyze 8 creepy stories of the horror anthology film The Field Guide to Evil. Each film is from a different country and is supposed to tell a tale of dark folklore. Is that true though and how well do the films gel together in this anthology? Hosted by Karri Ojala and Henrik Telkki. Edited by Karri …
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The title 'Robocop' may sound cheesy, but is descriptive. The first movie is often celebrated by critics and mortals alike, but the sequels are in a downward spiral. Here's why. Films covered in this episode: Robocop (1987) Robocop 2 (1990) Robocop 3 (1993) Robocop (2014) Hosted by Karri Ojala and Henrik Telkki. Edited by Karri Ojala. The Flick Lab…
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Wong Kar-wai, the pivotal Hong Kong -based film director is known around the world for his distinct non-linear storytelling, gangster films and artistic love stories. We now venture into his love trilogy, a film recommendation by podcast listener Kimmo. We have previously looked at the director's other work Chunking Express (1994) with guest Mitch …
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What went wrong with the Terminator sequels after the two original James Cameron movies? Karri and Henrik touch on the constant changes of studios, the revolving doors of actors, repeating story lines, poor dialogue, the difficulties of playing a terminator, the excess nature of modern action film-making, and other topics. Films covered in this epi…
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Béla Tarr's over 7-hour film is one of the longest movies in the world. The Hungarian director's work is based on the novel by László Krasznahorkai. Karri and Henrik are investigating the footsteps of Chinese director Hu Bo's "godfather". Why is the film so long and is the length justified? Is it one of the greatest films ever seen? Is the film see…
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It's episode #150 and it's time for some celebration with mostly non-movie topics. Zachary Pen joins us to discuss mass shootings in the US, NATO and Finland, social media, paper vs. digital, language quirks, the future of The Lab, all kinds of indecent things, and more. Hosted by Karri Ojala and Henrik Telkki. Edited by Karri Ojala. The Flick Lab …
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What have Karri and Henrik been watching for the last years? What to recommend, what to avoid? We've never stopped to discuss the films we've watched on our 'own time', outside the podcast analyses. Here's our recommendations and grievances. Hosted by Karri Ojala and Henrik Telkki. Edited by Karri Ojala. The Flick Lab theme tune written and perform…
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Better late than never. Here’s our long overdue recap of the 94th Academy Awards. Who won? Does it matter? Did Will Smith inadvertently slap the Oscars back into relevancy? Is there any value in even discussing the Oscars? Was the Jada Pinkett Smith joke a step too far? Is the Ukraine War detrimental to trans people specifically? Is Jennifer Lawren…
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What is real? Is the film depicting reality? Is it all about perspective? Is even fantasy involved? Is in fact anything burning in 'Burning'? Is the protagonist a 'serial masturbator'? Films covered in this episode: Burning (버닝, 2018), directed by Lee Chang-dong. Starring Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun, Jeon Jong-seo. Hosted by Karri Ojala and Henrik Telkk…
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[!! NOTE: THIS EPISODE IS APRIL FOOLS FOR THE FIRST 40 MINS.] The Academy Awards 2022, part 3 of 3: A Political Car Crash. Two male writers write a movie about a promiscuous young woman adrift in life, with heavy drug use presented in a positive light. Hey, what could go wrong? Apparently nothing, you get nominated for an Oscar for it. The Norwegia…
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The Academy Awards 2022 International Feature Film Nominees Part 2 of 3: Change. The Japanese Oscar contender Drive My Car appears to be the audience favorite for winning the Oscars. What’s the fuss about? We also look at Bhutan’s first Oscar nominee ever – Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, the heart-warming story of a remote community and its school…
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The Academy Awards 2022 International Feature Film Nominees Part 1 of 3: Searching for Home. Karri and Henrik break down the hand-drawn Danish documentary ‘Flee’ about a refugee called Amin and Italy’s coming-of-age Netflix contender ‘The Hand of God’. Both films tackle the theme of looking for home, both literally and spiritually. Paolo Sorrentino…
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In this episode of the podcast, Karri and Henrik join forces with director Nick Vaky and photographer Luke Liu from the Youtube channel Mint Volcano to discuss Taiwanese New Wave cinema. The quartet takes a close look at four distinct films across the timeline of the New Wave 'movement' from two key directors - Hou Hsiao-hsien and Edward Yang. The …
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In this episode of the podcast, Karri, Henrik, and Zach watch several short films utilizing the Blender 3D animation software. Some are playful, some serious, and one involves murderous Smurf-like creatures. Which are worthy of our recommendation? You can watch ALL of the films for free on Youtube using our playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v…
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